The judges must be selected from the serjeants at law, and the manner in which they are created merits notice. The lord chancellor, having taken his seat in the court where the vacancy is to be supplied, bringing with him the Letters Patent of Creation, causes the serjeant-elect to be introduced, to whom, in open court, his lordship notifies the king's pleasure, then causing the patent to be publicly read. This having been done, the Master of the Rolls reads to the new judge the oath he is to take, which states that "he shall indifferently administer justice to all men, as well foes as friends, that shall have any suit or plea before, him; and this he shall not forbear to do, though the king by his letters, or by express word of mouth, should command the contrary; and that from time to time, he shall not receive any fee or pension, or livery of any man, but of the king only; nor any gift, reward, or bribe, of any man, having suit or plea before him, saving meat and drink, which shall be of no great value."—The oath having been administered, the lord chancellor delivers to the new judge the letters-patent of his creation; and the lord chief of the court assigns to him a place on the bench, where he is then placed, and which he is enjoined to keep.
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Source: Leigh's New Picture of London. Printed for Samuel Leigh, 18, Strand;
by W. Clowes, Northumberland Court. 1819